Copying here a call-out for participants in academic research
Message
To Whom This May Concern,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Ana Tabuena-Ruddy, and I am a graduate student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. I am conducting research for my master’s thesis on how cooperative support organizations help worker cooperatives overcome operational and structural barriers, particularly as they scale their operations and contribute to climate solutions. I would like to invite your organization to participate in this study.
Study Overview:
The study aims to understand:
- The primary barriers that cooperatives face when trying to grow and expand their impact on climate action.
- How cooperative support organizations can aid in overcoming these challenges.
- The role of cooperative networks and federations in providing the necessary resources and support for growth.
What Participation Involves:
Your participation would involve one of the following:
- A brief online survey (15-20 minutes) to share your organization’s experience with supporting cooperatives.
- A one-on-one interview (30-45 minutes) conducted virtually to gain deeper insights into your work and the challenges you see cooperatives face.
- A case study (optional), where we explore your organization’s success in helping cooperatives overcome structural or operational challenges. Data collection will involve a semi-structured interview focused on your cooperative’s growth challenges, climate and equity initiatives, and sector-specific strategies. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to capture key insights. Participants may review findings to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Participation is completely voluntary, and all responses will remain confidential. Identifying details will be removed unless study participants specifically agree to have their names used, and all data will be securely stored. Interviews may be recorded.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please reply to this email. I will follow up with further details and schedule the interview or send the survey link.
Your expertise will greatly contribute to a better understanding of how to support cooperatives in overcoming barriers and scaling their impact on equitable climate solutions.
Thank you for considering participation, and I look forward to your response!
Best regards,
Ana Tabuena-Ruddy
ana.tabuena-ruddy@duke.edu